Lincs ECB Premier: Rain spoils Louth chase at Bracebridge Heath

The game was finely poised with Louth at 107-4 chasing 218 to win when the rains came

Winning the toss, captain Andy Carrington had no hesitation in asking the hosts to bat in overcast conditions.

Carrington and Keaton Critchell bowled probing opening spells but went wicket-less as the hosts reached 69-0, but Tom Ryder, playing his first match of the season, came on and removed both openers.

This brought in nemesis Brett Houston who had scored centuries in his two previous matches against Louth and was looking in the mood again until Laurence Scott ripped a leg spinner back into pads to trap him plumb lbw.

Louth continued to bowl disciplined areas with off-spinner Nic Keast, who bowled a 17-over spell, claiming the next wicket courtesy of Richard Bell’s catch at mid-on.

A few chances were spilled, but heads didn’t’ drop and the returning Carrington took two late wickets, both caught behind by keeper Graham West. The final two balls of the innings brought two more wickets to Keast, one courtesy of a smart running catch by Critchell on the boundary, to restrict Heath to 217-8 off their 50 overs.

In response Scott and Keast picked up a few quick boundaries before Keast edged behind off Sri Lankan quick Perera.

Critchell and Scott batted positively to take the score to 89 before Scott (30) was caught playing one big shot too many.

Critchell, who batted fluently, had reached 49 but fell lbw one short of a well-deserved half-century.

Bell was next to go and at 107-4 the game was finely balanced when rain washed out the match.

Louth will aim to replicate this positive display when they host Grantham CC on Saturday at the London Road Sports Ground, (noon start). The bar will be open all day.

Thanks to club sponsors Kenwick Park and matchball sponsors MPW Decorators.